Brown v. Board of Education (Reax)

 Brown v. Board of Education 

Brown v. Board of Education was a monumental case in the history of the United States. It established that racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional. This case started in 1951 and ended in 1954. This case ruled that segregation in schools were unconstitutional. This is one of the most known cases in America's history.

This case relates all the way back to the case of Plessy v. Ferguson where the separate but equal clause was made. Which meant that as long as African Americans had the same facilities as white people it was okay as long as they remained separated. You may wonder how this relates back to the Plessy v. Ferguson case; Brown v. Board of Education relates back to this case by when the government created the separate but equal clause it opened up the pathway for the Brown v. Board of Education case which would result in establishing that racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional. According to Brown v. Board of Education- HISTORY, "In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that racially segregated public facilities were legal, so long as the facilities for Black people and whites were equal."

This separate but equal clause went on for a very long time. This was also taking place when there was something called Jim Crow laws. Jim Crow laws help to establish the separate but equal clause. According to Brown v. Board of Education- HISTORY, "...African Americans from sharing the same buses, schools and other public facilities as whites-known as "Jim Crow" laws- and established "separate but equal" doctrine that would stand for the next six decades."

Eventually over time the NAACP was created by the 1950s. NAACP stood for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Just as a reminder during the time that Brown v. Board of Education had taken place America was still going through a time where the country was very divided when it came to the topic of slavery. The North was more antislavery, and the South was more proslavery. The NAACP really wanted to help change segregation laws specifically in public schools. According to Brown v. Board of Education- HISTORY, "But by the early 1950s, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was working hard to challenge segregation laws in public schools..."

Plessy v. Ferguson, Jim Crow laws, and the NAACP all played a role in leading up to the Brown v. Board of Education case. Each of these events paved a pathway for the ruling to be made in Brown v. Board of Education. All of these events allowed the government to see that everything that had been doing was not working anymore or really at all. According to Brown v. Board of Education- HISTORY, "In the decision, issued on May 17, 1954, Warren wrote that "in field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place," as segregated schools are "inherently unequal."

After all these events took place, the government did eventually acknowledge that the way they were running things were unconstitutional and not working. Their method of doing things at this time did not provide a stable economy within America. This case displayed that the government was dysfunctional and not fully abiding by our Amendments. According to Brown v. Board of Education- HISTORY, "As a result, the Court rules that the plaintiffs were being "deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the 14th Amendment."

Brown v. Board of Education was a case that made the government in America at that time have to accept the fact that African Americans are a valuable part of the economy. Some of the things that we have today was invented by African Americans. This case caused the government to have to see African Americans as humans and not as property. Brown v. Board of Education was definitely a case that changed America and one that is commonly known in history. 

Reax EOTO #2

There were many topics touched on within this EOTO. Some of the topics discussed were the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and 1875, 13th amendment, 14th amendment, 15th amendment, and the Freedmen's Bureau. All of these events took place during the Reconstruction Era. The Reconstruction Era lasted from 1865 to 1877.

The Reconstruction Era took place right after the Civil War. This was a period of time when slavery was still in the process of being abolished here in America. New laws were being made. 

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 declared that all men are equally protected under the law. According to Civil Rights Act of 1866- ThoughtCo., "The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was the first law enacted by the United States Congress clearly defining U.S. citizenship and affirming that all citizens are equally protected by the law." The Civil Rights Act of 1875 declared that all people born within the United States are automatically citizens. According to Civil Rights Act of 1875- ThoughtCo., "Establishing that "all persons born in the United States" are citizens of the United States;"

Amendments were ratified, and new amendments were also made during this time. The 13th amendment helped to put an end to slavery here in the United States. According to 13th Amendment, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

The 14th amendment gave all citizens equal protection under the law. According to 14th Amendment, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

The 15th amendment granted all citizens the right to vote. According to 15th Amendment, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude-"

The Freedmen's Bureau was created to help former African American slaves and poor white people after the Civil War had took place. According to Freedmen's Bureau- HISTORY, "...was established in 1865 by Congress to help millions of former black slaves and poor whites in the South in the aftermath of the Civil War. The Freedmen's Bureau provided food, housing and medical aid, established schools and offered legal assistance." As you can see the Freedmen's Bureau was created right after the Civil War took place and it assisted former African American slaves and poor white people.

Within this EOTO there were a lot of topics and things discussed. Everything that was talked about took place during the Reconstruction Era. The Reconstruction Era took place right after the Civil War. Based on the information given above you can see how these specific events impacted America's history. You are also able to see the significant within each of these events. 

Reconstruction Era (Movie)

The Reconstruction Era

 The Reconstruction era began in 1865 and ended in 1877. The Reconstruction era took place right after the Civil War. One of the main purposes for the Reconstruction era was to get the southern states to leave the Confederacy.

During the time of the Reconstruction era four million slaves had been freed. One of the purposes for the Reconstruction era was to convince the south to leave the Confederacy. According to Reconstruction Era- HISOTRY, "Reconstruction (1865-1877), the turbulent era following the Civil War, was the effort to reintegrate Southern states from the Confederacy and 4 million newly-freed people into the United States."

Slavery was also another big component of the Reconstruction era. During this time slavery was still in the process of being abolished. The South did not like what the north was doing when it came to slavery. So, they left and joined the Confederacy. During the time of the Reconstruction era, they did their best to get the south to leave the Confederacy. According to Reconstruction Era- Ducksters, "The purpose of the Reconstruction was to help the South become a part of the Union again."

During this time there were many other reasons why the south wanted to leave the Union. Another big reason the south wanted to leave the Union was because of states' rights. The southern states wanted to be their own person when it came to making certain decisions on things. The southern state did not agree with the decisions that the northern states were making when it came to the topic of slavery. According to Reconstruction Era- Sage Advices, "There were a number of reasons why the Southern States wanted to leave. A few of the major reasons were: State rights - The leaders in the South wanted the states to make most of their own laws." The south wanted to do things their way. 

Based on the information given above you can see that the Reconstruction era lasted from 1865-1877. Slavery was still a big debate during this time. The south did not like what the Union was doing when it came to slavery. So, they left the Union and joined the Confederacy. One of the main purposes of the Reconstruction era was to convince the south join the Union again and leave the Confederacy.

Plessy v. Ferguson EOTO #2 (14th Amendment)

Plessy v. Ferguson

There have been many cases that has come through the supreme court that heavily impacted history. One of the many cases that have heavily impacted our history is Plessy v. Ferguson. This case was an example of the 14th amendment being practiced also showing you how even though slavery may have been abolished there was still segregation going on during this time. During the time of Plessy v. Ferguson segregation was one of the biggest debates that was being held. 

The Plessy v.Ferguson case took place during the Reconstruction Era. The Reconstruction Era was a period of time that happened right after the civil war. During this time slavery was being abolished in America. Even though during this time slavery was in the process of being abolished states were still divided on the topic of slavery. And in this case Plessy v.Ferguson just added more fuel to the fire.

Plessy v. Ferguson was a case that took place in 1896. This case was about a black man by the name of Homer Plessy. In 1892 Plessy sat in a white only car of the Louisiana train. He was then asked to get up, but he refused to. He was asked to move to the car of the train that was reserved for blacks. According to Plessy v.Ferguson- Quizlet, "In 1892, Homer Plessy--who was 1/8 black--took a seat in a "whites only" car of a Louisiana train. He refused to move to the car reserved for blacks and was arrested.

A decision was made on this case in the supreme court. According to Plessy v.Ferguson- Quizlet, "The Supreme Court ruled that the "separate but equal" provision of the Louisiana law was constitutional." The separate but equal doctrine was as long as black people got the same thing's as white people (the same treatment and same facilities) that was fair as long as those things remained separate.

You may wonder how was this case an example of the 14th amendment. The 14th amendment states 14th Amendment, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

The way that this case is an example of the 14th amendment is the 14th amendment talks about how all men should be treated equally. But in this case all men are not treated equally. They are not treated equally within this case because the seats on the train were segregated between the whites and blacks. Having segregated seats between the whites and the blacks does not align with 14th amendment. 

Looking at this case from the perspective of Plessy, if we are a country that is supposed to be abiding by our constitution with the 14th amendment being a part of our constitution in this case, we did not abide by it. In court Plessy's lawyers argued that if we are supposed to be a country where we believe that all men are created equal in this situation Plessy was not treated equally to Ferguson. If all men are created equal why is there still segregation within the train?

Based on the information given above you can see how Plessy v.Ferguson was a case that heavily impacted America's history. The outcome of this case was the separate but equal law. Which meant as long as blacks received the same things as whites it was okay as long it stayed separated. The 14th amendment was also displayed within this case because it talks about how America is supposed to be a country where all parties are treated with justice and men are created equal. 

State vs. Mann

State vs. Mann

State versus Mann was a case that took place in the year of 1829. This case was about a slave master named John Mann and his slave Lydia. During this time slaves were seen as property and not as human. Mann was whipping Lydia and she tried to escape As she tried to escape Mann shot her in the back. This was a situation that eventually led them having to go to court. 

This case took place in 1829 and is one of the most commonly known cases. According to State v. Mann- NC Pedia, "State v. John Mann, an 1829 North Carolina Supreme Court decision, is probably the most notorious judicial opinion on the relationship between enslaver and enslaved people ever rendered by a state court." During this time slaves could be rented and only had to work for a slave master for a certain amount of time and then they would be let go from that particular master.

In any argument there is always his side, her side, and the truth. In this case his side was saying that Lydia was his property and she was disobedient so he punished her as any other slave master would do. Her side was saying that he shouldn't have shot her in the back because that wasn't a form of punishment that should have been used. 

The team that was representing John Mann in this case argued that he was just punishing a slave that belonged to him. Since slaves were seen as property and not as human they argued that he was just tending to his property as he should. According to State v. Mann- NC HISTORY, "...full dominion of the owner over the slave...He appealed, claiming that assault on a slave by her master could not be indictable since a slave was property of her master...Nonetheless, Ruffin concluded that "the power of the master must be absolute, to render the submission of the slave perfect." Thomas Ruffin was one the people a part of the team that was representing John Mann in this case. They strongly believed that Lydia was Mann's property and that he was just tending to his property.

The team that was representing Lydia in this case argued that John Mann shooting her in the back was not a form of punishment. Her team understood that in the eyes of the law during that time she was seen as property and not as human. In this case she was John Mann's property but his form of punishment in this is what they were arguing against. Her team argued that shooting her in the back was unlawful and shouldn't have been done. According to State v. Mann- NC HISTORY, "The struggle, too, in the Judge's own breast between the feelings of the man, and the duty of the magistrate is a severe one...He argued that inhuman punishment of slaves was indeed legal in North Carolina." This piece of evidence shows you what Lydia's team was fighting against. Within this case John Mann was fined $10 but his team even argued that fining him was unlawful.

So the question may who is actually right in this case?

The final decision in this case ruled in favor of John Mann. According to State v. Mann- Lexinexis, "The Supreme Court of North Carolina reversed the conviction and found Mann, as the possessor of the slave, was entitled to the same authority as the owner." Slavery has been a battle that America has been fighting for a long time. This case was a perfect example of that. This case went down as one of the most known cases in history. 

The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued and signed by President Abraham Lincoln on September 22,1862. You may wonder what was the purpose of this document? What impact did it have on society? Does it impact society in any way today?

The Emancipation Proclamation was written around the time of the Civil War. The purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation was to free all of the slaves that were loyal to the Confederacy and going against the Union. During this time the states were still very divided on the topic of slavery. Some states were pro-slavery and other states were anti-slavery. Mainly states in the north were pro-slavery and mainly states in the south were anti-slavery. 

Some people have the misconception that the Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery in America. But, the Emancipation Proclamation only freed the slaves that were loyal to the Confederacy. According to Emancipation Proclamation-HISTORY, "Lincoln didn't actually free all of the approximately 4 million men, women, and children held in slavery...The document applied only to enslaved people in the Confederacy, and not to those in the border states that remained loyal to the Union." The Emancipation Proclamation only freed but a handful of slaves.

Lincoln believed that slavery was wrong. And during his reign as president he did what he could to help bring an end to slavery. And one of those things being the Emancipation Proclamation.

Now you may wonder what impact did this document have on the society during that time? Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on September 22,1862 everything that this document contained was not practiced until January 1,1863. According to Emancipation Proclamation-HISTORY ,"On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that as of January 1, 1863, all enslaved people in the states currently engaged in rebellion against the Union "shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." 

After this document was issued this granted a handful of slaves their freedom and this opened the door to slavery later down the road being abolished in America. Which leads to the impact that the Emancipation Proclamation has on society today with the creation of the 13th amendment. The 13th amendment was passed by congress on January 31, 1865. This amendment abolished slavery in America permanently.

Based on the information from 13th Amendment- NATIONAL ARCHIVES, "Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States...Nonetheless, the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery in the nation since it only applied to areas of the Confederacy currently in a state of rebellion...The 13th Amendment was passed at the end of the Civil War." You can see how although the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery in America permanently it did open up the path way to the creation of the 13th Amendment which eventually did abolish slavery in America permanently. 

The battle with slavery was something that America dealt with for a long time. For a while the northern states were more anti-slavery and the southern states were more pro-slavery. Under the presidency of Abraham Lincoln the Emancipation Proclamation was issued that opened the door to the abolishment of slavery in America. But, the 13th Amendment officially made slavery permanently abolished in America. This was the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Founding Era (De Jure Slavery)

The Founding Era

The topics that were discussed within this project presentation was the Emancipation Proclamation, Amistad Mutiny, The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, The American Anti-Slavery Society, The Kansas Nebraska Act, and The John Brown Raid. These were all events in time that surrounded the topic of slavery. For a long time, America has been divided on the topic of slavery. On whether America should be for or against it? 

The Emancipation Proclamation was a document issued and signed by President Abraham Lincoln on September 22,1862. But the Emancipation Proclamation was not practiced until January 1,1863. According to The Emancipation Proclamation, "On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that as of January 1, 1863, all enslaved people in the states currently engaged in rebellion against the Union "shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." Some people have the wrong concept and think that the Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery in America permanently. But it only freed the slaves that were loyal to the Confederacy and going against the Union. 

Let's now switch our focus to what Amistad Mutiny was about. Amistad Mutiny was a slave rebellion that took place on a slave ship. According to Amistad Mutiny-Britannica, "Amistad mutiny, (July 2, 1839), slave rebellion that took place on the slave ship Amistad..." This rebellion occurred because slaves that were on that ship were taken from Western Africa and taken across the Atlantic. After being held captive for a little while they eventually rebelled because they wanted to recapture their freedom and return home. According to Amistad Mutiny, "In 1839...Taken from Western Africa and shipped across the Atlantic to be sold to the highest bidder, they wanted only to regain their freedom and return home."

Now that you know what Amistad Mutiny was about let's move on to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. The purpose of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was to help capture runaway slaves. This law that was passed also denied slaves the right to a jury trial and it also increased the penalty that would receive for conflicting with the process. The increased penalty was a $1,000 fine and being sentenced to six months in jail. According to Fugitive Slave Act of 1850- HISTORY, "...Compromise of 1850...this new law forcibly compelled citizens to assist in the capture of runaways. It also denied enslaved people the right to a jury trial and increased the penalty for interfering with the rendition process to $1,000 and six months in jail."

Now let's take a look at the American Anti-Slavery Society. The American Anti-Slavery Society was an abolition movement that took place in 1833. It was led by William Lloyd Garrison and the purpose of this movement was to help abolish slavery in America. According to American Anti-Slavery Society- Britannica, "American Anti-Slavery Society, (1833-70), promoter, with its state and local auxiliaries, of the cause of immediate abolition of slavery in the United States. As the main activist arm of the Abolition Movement...the society was founded in 1833 under the leadership of William Llyod Garrison."

Now you may wonder what the Kansas Nebraska Act was about. The Kansas Nebraska Act took place in 1854. The purpose of this was to try and split Kansas and Nebraska into two different territories. At that time Senator Douglas wanted to separate the two, to receive support from the South. According to Kansas Nebraska Act- QUIZLET, " Sen. Douglas wanted to divide the territory into the Nebraska Territory and the Kansas Territory; to gain support of the South, he decided slavery could be decided by popular sovereignty."

Last but not least let's take a look at the John Brown Raid. The purpose of the John Brown Raid was to promote the message of anti-slavery. John Brown was a Kansas abolitionist who strongly wanted to send the message that the act of slavery was not right. According to John Brown Raid- QUIZLET, "John Brown is a Kansas abolitionist, who believed slavery was wrong and was willing to fight to protect his beliefs by starting a slave revolt."

Based on the information given above you can see how all of these topics revolve around the subject of slavery. For a long time, America was fighting the battle of either being for or against slavery? And these are some examples of that.